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Volume 4 - March 2003
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So what happens after you get involved in a motor vehicle accident? For most of us, that is the most remote thing we plan on or think about. However, if that unfortunate eventuality does occur, getting the proper health care is very important. Soft tissue injuries that may not be apparent initially may have serious long-term complications. Nothing is worse than having a chronic injury that will result in a decrease in your enjoyment of life. Having the proper legal advice is just as important as your initial health assessment. Any settlement that is negotiated should take into account the cost of your health care for as long as it takes for you to fully recover. Madeleine Patton, a lawyer and patient at Bayside has offered a ˝ hour consultation with no charge to those of you seeking legal advice if you are currently dealing with ICBC or have legal questions concerning a family matter. Find out more about Madeleine in the "Professional Advisor" section. |
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| Ali Chernoff and Katrina Lewis are both back this month. Ali has some information on what a Registered Dietician can do for you while Katrina will help you with your cardiovascular fitness. Both will be regular advisors in future issues. They will be offering you tips and ideas on how to create a better diet and health and fitness for work and play. You'll find them in the "Professional Advisor" area. | ||
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your
friends or family.
To your health! |
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I
just returned from a trip to Edmonton last month. Edmonton
is a nice enough place with really nice people. There are probably
more Tim Horton's Donut places there than Starbucks in Vancouver.
However much I enjoyed the prairie hospitality, I must say, I'm
not used to the bitter cold of - 28 to - 35 Celsius temperatures.
My ears went numb in less than a minute just standing outside. When
I returned back to Vancouver, the taxi driver told me it was +7
Celsius. I felt like I had just moved to Hawaii! How is all this
relevant to this month's newsletter? Well, snow and ice also means
a higher rate of traffic accidents. Injured vehicle occupants usually
complain of headaches, sore necks and backs. But what actually happens
to your spine in an accident? Check it out in the "Research News"
section.
For
those of you that wrote and told me about your side of the donut
story from the last issue, thanks for the feedback. I even had
a patient here who is vacationing in Thailand respond! One of
you said that the best local donut shop is the Harmony Donut
Shop at 2945 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver. However, some
of you have also compared the fat ratio of the donuts and have
chosen Tim Horton's as your number one choice. There are no
Krispy Kremes in Vancouver just yet; however there is a way
to order their donuts. Apparently there is a local outfit here
called the Donut Guys that will take your order. Call or email
them and they'll run down to Washington State, buy them for
you and deliver it. I think it costs about $14/dozen. Now, you
must really like donuts to do that!
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What is Whiplash? Whiplash-is a soft tissue injury to the neck. It is also called neck sprain or neck strain. It is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck, usually because of sudden extension and flexion. The disorder commonly occurs as the result of an automobile accident and may include injury to intervertebral joints, discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots. Symptoms such as neck pain may be present directly after the injury or may be delayed for several days. In addition to neck pain, other symptoms may include neck stiffness, injuries to the muscles and ligaments (myofascial injuries), headache, dizziness, abnormal sensations such as burning or prickling (parenthesias), or shoulder or back pain. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892 |
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Does No Vehicle Damage Mean No Injury? One of the most frustrating types of auto accident is that with little or no vehicle damage. Insurance companies will usually minimize the complaint of injuries by the victim. "A common misconception formulated is that the amount of vehicle crash damage due to a collision offers a direct correlation to the degree of occupant injury. This is a false reasoning… minor vehicle damage can relate or even be the major contributing factor to occupant injury." The key to understanding this concept is to recognize that the acceleration that a car experiences is inversely related to how long the car moves before it comes to a stop-or the crush distance in a collision. Engineering test collisions consistently show that the peak vehicle G forces in a collision are approximately twice as high as the average G forces, and that peak occupant G forces are about twice as large as peak vehicle forces. Thus, an occupant in a low speed collision with no damage to the vehicle may be at a significantly higher risk of injury than an occupant in a collision with a damaged vehicle. Robbins MC. Lack of relationship between vehicle damage and occupant injury. SAE 970494 |
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Whiplash: X-Ray A patient involved in a simple rear-end collision who later presents with the complaint of neck pain may not require radiographic evaluation, but if there is any suspicion of a fracture or instability, radiography must be carried out. Radiographs help to rule out fractures or malalignment of the cervical spine. Soft-tissue swelling may be evident, and this too requires further evaluation by additional views or alternate modalities to rule out a significant fracture or instability. X-rays With any history of trauma, especially motor vehicle accidents, the standard x-rays taken is a series of 3 sets as shown in the figures below. Follow up x-rays that are taken a year later will normally show a straightening of the cervical spine and a loss of the natural curve. It is not unusual to note degenerative changes such as loss of disc heights and bone spurs that will accompany the straightening of the cervical spine. |
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| Figure 1. Lateral cervical spine radiograph showing non-specific or physiologic straightening. | ||
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Degenerative changes Plain film radiography may also reveal the degenerative changes common to older people. A variety of radiographic features indicate pre-existing degenerative processes, including:
How chiropractic can help When there is a lack of mobility and too much mobility in different sections of the cervical spine, degenerative changes can occur. The discs get nutrients passively from the natural motion that occurs within the spinal joints. A lack of normal mobility due to joint dysfunction and soft tissue injuries can accelerate the degenerative process. Mobilization and proper cervical exercises can decrease the rate of degenerative changes and maintain the natural alignment of the spine. Excerpts and pictures courtesy of: |
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Food for Thought During my work as a registered dietitian, I have consulted with my clients who are confused and overwhelmed with the mass of often-conflicting information available about food and nutrition topics. Through this column I will simplify a few basic questions. Here are a few common questions and misconceptions around the topic of nutrition and Dietitians. What is a Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist? A Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist, (R.D.N.) is a health professional that can provide extensive knowledge on healthy eating. Registered dietitians are trained to educate on the benefits of safe and reliable dietary practices. They provide their services in hospitals, community based settings, health care facilities, foodservice companies, and private practices. What are the educational standards for Registered Dietitians? Educationally, a licensed R.D.N. requires having both a Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition, plus a one-year dietetic internship program or a nutrition master's degree. Law protects all the titles of "Registered Dietitian", "Professional Dietitian" and "Dietitian". Only those who have met national standards can use these titles. The letters R.D., R.D.N., P.Dt., Dt.P., or R.Dt. are the legal designations for qualified Registered Dietitians of Canada. R.D.N.'s must take ongoing continuing education classes to maintain their license each year. Additionally, in every province, practicing dietitians are regulated, ensuring that you are receiving safe and ethical advice. A Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist is the best professional consultant for any nutrition issue. |
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How can you Benefit from a Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist?
Ali J. Chernoff consults from her 212 West 1st Ave
office. |
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Hello Bayside Patients, Now it's time to increase your aerobic activity. Aerobic exercise, cardiovascular training and endurance training all refer to exercise sustained over a period of time. Activities such as: walking, running, cycling, dancing and swimming are examples of aerobic exercise. The Benefits Of Aerobic Exercise Include:
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What Is Your Target
Heart Rate Zone? Your target heart rate
zone is the optimum zone for aerobic exercise. This will allow you
to achieve the maximum benefit for your effort. It is measured in
beats per minute. There are two methods for measuring heart rate:
taking your pulse and using a heart rate monitor. The polar heart
rate monitor is the most accurate way to determine your target heart
rate. It will also prompt you to stay in your target zone. Contact
Katch Life or inquire at the Bayside Chiropractic front desk to
find out more about Polar Heart Rate Monitors.
The first 25 callers will receive their target heart rate zone calculated for FREE!! Offer expires March 31, 2003.
Katch Life Health & Wellness
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